Ocimene: Aroma, Where It Occurs and Lab Tested Profiles
Marcos Gabriel MoralesOcimene is a terpene with a green, tropical and woody aroma and floral notes in flavor. It occurs in basil, mint, parsley, tarragon, kumquat and mango. In our February 2026 SC Labs tests, Juicy Fruit 2025 (Live) carried 11.5% beta ocimene, the most of any profile we have tested.
What does ocimene smell like?
The Good Scents Company, a flavor and fragrance database, describes beta ocimene as "tropical, green, terpy and woody with vegetable nuances." In taste tests at 40 parts per million it reads as green, tropical and woody with floral and vegetable notes. The Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) lists its flavor profile as floral.
Chemically it is C10H16 with a molecular weight of 136.23, the same formula as myrcene, and it boils at about 177 °C (sources: PubChem, The Good Scents Company). SC Labs measures the beta form, the one reported in the table below.
Where does ocimene occur outside cannabis?
The Good Scents Company lists ocimene in basil, coriander seed, mint, parsley, tarragon, oregano, marjoram, rosemary and black pepper, in fruit such as kumquat, mandarin and mango, and in black currant buds and hop oil. Measured amounts include neroli bigarade oil (3.9%) and petitgrain bergamot oil (1.5%). FEMA lists it as flavor ingredient number 3539.
How common is ocimene in cannabis?
It is a supporting terpene. A 2022 study in PLOS ONE grouped more than 41,000 THC dominant flower samples by terpene profile, and none of its three main groups is defined by ocimene: they are high in caryophyllene and limonene, myrcene and pinene, or terpinolene and myrcene (source: Smith et al., PLOS ONE, 2022).
In our results ocimene ranged from 0.6% to 11.5% and never ranked first. It was the second largest terpene in two profiles, Juicy Fruit and Durban Poison, behind myrcene.
Which strains are high in ocimene?
These are the four highest ocimene profiles we have tested. SC Labs (ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited) measured 39 terpene compounds by gas chromatography in our February 2026 batches.
| Profile | Beta ocimene (rank) | Other leading terpenes | Total terpenes | SC Labs batch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juicy Fruit 2025 (Live) | 11.5% (second) | myrcene 48.5%, limonene 6.9% | 75.9% | 260217P020 |
| Durban Poison 2025 (Live) | 9.6% (second) | myrcene 46.8%, limonene 6.8% | 76.7% | 260217P021 |
| Pineapple Kush 2025 (Live) | 6.5% (third) | myrcene 26.8%, terpinolene 22.5% | 74.9% | 260217P018 |
| Chem Berry 2025 (Live) | 6.2% (fourth) | myrcene 43.4%, terpinolene 10.0% | 76.6% | 260217P017 |
- Juicy Fruit 2025 (Live): sweet, fruity gum with pineapple, citrus and a hint of spice. From $57 for 3 mL.
- Durban Poison 2025 (Live): sweet and earthy, with notes of pine, citrus and anise. From $57 for 3 mL.
- Pineapple Kush 2025 (Live): sweet pineapple, creamy, with an earthy kush base. From $57 for 3 mL. Choose the 2025 harvest for the tested batch.
All of these are Live profiles, captured with cryogenic aroma capture, 100% solventless, from fresh flower grown in the terpene belt of Sonoma County, California, straight from the field and never frozen. Each is 100% cannabis derived and tests at 0.0% cannabinoids on a full panel certificate of analysis. Full reports are on our lab results page.
Want to compare? The Discovery Trio lets you pick any three 3 mL profiles for $139, and US orders of $150 and up ship free.
How to use an ocimene rich profile
How much to add depends on the product. Our guide on how much terpene to add to distillate lists starting ratios by product type and by hardware; start low and adjust by aroma. These are industry starting points, not guarantees. The terpene calculator does the math for your batch size. Shop terpenes for vape carts or terpenes for concentrates.
Frequently asked questions
What does ocimene smell like?
Green, tropical and woody, with floral notes in flavor tests. FEMA lists its flavor profile as floral.
Is ocimene common in cannabis?
It is usually a supporting terpene. In our 10 tested profiles it ranged from 0.6% to 11.5% and never ranked first, but it was second in Juicy Fruit and Durban Poison.
Which strain has the most ocimene?
Of the profiles we have lab tested, Juicy Fruit 2025 (Live), at 11.5% beta ocimene in SC Labs batch 260217P020. Durban Poison 2025 (Live) has 9.6%.
Where else is ocimene found?
In basil, mint, parsley, tarragon, oregano, marjoram, black pepper, kumquat, mandarin and mango, and in neroli and petitgrain oils.
Other terpene guides: terpinolene, myrcene, limonene, pinene, and the terpene chart comparing all of our tested profiles. Keep reading: Live vs cured terpenes and Cannabis derived vs botanical terpenes.